DNF Round-Up
Well, I just got back from summer vacation and I’m still trying to catch up on life. Since I don’t quite have it in me to tackle a full review yet, this makes it the perfect time for another DNF roundup!
So, here we are once again. As always, these are simply books that weren’t the right fit for me at the right time, not necessarily bad books. In fact, one of my favorite things about doing these DNF posts is that they often spark conversations with readers who ended up loving the very books I couldn’t finish. Hopefully, if one of these titles catches your eye, you’ll have a much better experience with it than I did.
I received review copies from the publisher(s). This does not affect the contents of my reviews and all opinions are my own.
The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
Mogsy’s Rating: DNF
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Books (May 5, 2026)
Length: 308 pages
I really wanted this one to work because the premise sounded fantastic. Set against the backdrop of 1940s wartime Hong Kong, it follows two women bound by a family curse whose paths become entangled through ghosts, vengeance, and long-buried secrets. The first half had me intrigued, especially with its rich atmosphere and supernatural elements, but somewhere along the way the story shifted in both structure and style, and I gradually found myself losing interest. The increased use of second-person narration never clicked for me either, and instead of pulling me further into the story, it kept pushing me back out. I actually made it all the way to about the 80% mark before admitting it just wasn’t working for me anymore, so it wasn’t for the lack of trying. However, I eventually realized I was pushing through out of obligation rather than enjoyment, and I promised myself I wasn’t going to do that anymore. Into the DNF pile it went, though it might find an audience with fans of literary fantasy or historical fiction that experiments with unique perspectives.
Mogsy’s Rating: DNF
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Romance
Series: Book 1 in The House of Teeth
Publisher: Del Rey (March 17, 2026)
Length: 560 pages
This was my third Ava Reid novel, and honestly, while I made it through the first two feeling they were relatively enjoyable, maybe I should start accepting that her writing simply isn’t for me. Innamorata follows Lady Agnes as she navigates a world of fallen noble house and forbidden necromancy while searching for a way to restore her family’s honor, but then of course, her cause gets completely derailed by the romance. If only it was just that, though. Once again, the gothic atmosphere and premise immediately caught my attention, but I found myself struggling almost from the get go with the author’s overly flowery prose. It’s true I’ve had similar issues with Reid’s previous books, but by now my patience for the slow pacing and relentlessly overdramatic writing has worn thin. Most unfortunate of all was the fact I could always see the potential beneath the surface, but never quite found my way into the story itself. Other readers might have a better time than I did, provided they’re willing to settle in for the long haul.
Mogsy’s Rating: DNF
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 26, 2026)
Length: 384 pages
Night Objects sounded like exactly the kind of slow-burning mystery I usually enjoy. It follows Lenny, who looks back on her years at an elite boarding school where a friendship with an exclusive secret society eventually led to the suspicious death of one of its members. Unfortunately, by the halfway point I felt like the mystery was still spinning its wheels, with too much time spent on the day-to-day school drama while the central intrigue barely seemed to move forward. This was actually chosen to be my poolside read during the summer, and sad to say, that wasn’t the best decision. I realized I just wasn’t invested enough to keep reaching for it between my laps. In a different mood, I might have been willing to stick it out and see where everything was headed, but this just didn’t hold my attention.
The BiblioSanctum 
♪What the world needs now♪♪is Neal Asher, sweet Neal Asher♪♪it’s the one thing there’s just not enough of♪
However, I admit that I don’t see you diving into the Polity and enjoying the time 😀
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